O'Connell is higly-regarded within the corridors of power at Ewood Park and is tipped to be pushing for the first-team next season.

The 19-year-old enjoyed successful loan spells at Rotherham and York City last season, making 23 appearances during his time at both clubs.

O'Connell, who has represented England at Under-18 level, caught the eye of several Premier League clubs when captaining England Under-19s during their recent European U19 Elite Round qualifiers.

The powerful left-sided central defender picked up two man-of-the-match awards during the qualifiers and his suitors are now stepping up their interest.

The likes of Tottenham, Newcastle, Cardiff, Aston Villa and Swansea are all thought to be monitoring his situation at Ewood Park as they prepare to test Blackburn's resolve to hang onto the prize asset.

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t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.